KOCHI, India
Kerala’s old captive elephants can now retire and spend their twilight years in dignity at their new home. The Elephant Rehabilitation Centre, India’s first old-age home for the pachyderm, was opened last week at the serene Agasthyavanam Biological Park, a major attraction for the eco-tourists in Kerala. The state hopes to attract a large number of tourists to visit the facility. According to reports, Kerala has a population of around 900 captive elephants.
DHAKA, Bangladesh A baby boy born with two heads in southwestern Bangladesh died after his parents decided to take him home because they could not afford adequate medical care. The boy, named Kiron, was born this month by Cesarean section and died at home late after developing a fever and breathing difficulties Kiron had attracted such attention that 150 000 people gathered at the clinic where he was cared for after his birth in Keshobpur, 135 kilometres (85 miles) from the capital Dhaka.
ORISSA, India Thousands of Catholic schools are shut across India in protest against continuing anti-Christian violence in the eastern state of Orissa. Eleven people have died after a Hindu leader was killed in the state's Kandhamal district. Authorities said Maoist rebels were behind the killing, but some Hindu groups have accused Christians.
Over 3000 police have been deployed but attacks on churches continue. Hundreds of Christians have fled their homes. The Pope has condemned the violence.
SRINAGAR, India
After evading police for several days, Jammu and Kashmir’s Hurriyat leader Shabir Ahmad Shah has been arrested as the crackdown continued on separatist leaders in the Kashmir valley. Shah, dubbed by supporters as “Kashmir’s Nelson Mandela” for the more than 20 years he has spent in prisons for opposing Indian rule, is an executive member of the region’s separatist alliance, All Parties Hurriyat (Freedom) Conference. More than 47 people have died, mostly in police and paramilitary firing, in the turmoil that has been stoked both by separatist leaders in the Kashmir valley and groups in Jammu region.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, India
The Kerala police are on the lookout for a 20-year-old man identified as Sabari, who disappeared after swindling investors to the tune of Rs1.1bn, (C$XXX). Sabari launched a financial services company ‘Total 4 U’ 18 months ago offering a high rate of interest to depositors. His modus operandi was simple. On an investment of Rs100,000 for three months, he would return Rs160,000.
NEW DELHI, India
The Indian government carried out one of the biggest evacuation operations in its history, rescuing nearly 1 million people marooned in the flood-hit eastern state of Bihar, officials said. The floods came when heavy monsoon rains caused the Kosi River to breach its banks as it entered the state from Nepal in the north and change its course. At least 57 people have died in the floods. More than 1,650 people have died in this year’s monsoon rains across India - in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Orissa, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh.
CHANDIGARH, India
Controversial Nihang sect chief Ajit Singh Phoola, who was set ablaze by two inmates inside Punjab’s Amritsar central jail, has died in hospital. Jail officials had said the two prisoners procured diesel from the prison generator and poured it on Phoola, who is accused of murder. They later set him on fire with a match-stick. Phoola tried to save himself by running to a nearby water tank and jumped into it. He was used by the Punjab police officials as an informer during the terrorism days in Punjab (1981-95) and used to have armed private bodyguards of fellow Nihangs.
KOCHI, India
Kerala’s old captive elephants can now retire and spend their twilight years in dignity at their new home. The Elephant Rehabilitation Centre, India’s first old-age home for the pachyderm, was opened last week yesterday at the serene Agasthyavanam Biological Park, a major attraction for the eco-tourists in Kerala.
The state hopes to attract a large number of tourists to visit the facility. According to reports, Kerala has a population of around 900 captive elephants - the highest number of any Indian state. The famous Sree Krishna Temple at Guruvayoor owns the largest herd of 65.
MUMBAI, India
The twisted metal of smashed up cars lining highways is a grim testament to India’s road toll, one of the worst in the world with around 100,000 people killed in traffic accidents last year alone. And the toll is not just human. The World Bank estimates that every year road accidents cost India about 3% of its gross domestic product which was more than US$1 trillion in 2007. In India, where roads carry almost 90% of all passenger traffic and 65% of its freight, the mortality rate per 10,000 vehicles is 14 compared with less than two for developed countries. The transport ministry estimates that the number of annual fatalities from road accidents might climb to 150,000 by 2015 due to the rapid growth of vehicle ownership in India.
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan
Pervez Musharraf is gone from the presidential palace but he is by no means forgotten on the vast Facebook on-line networking site, where friends and foes are fighting over his legacy. The former army chief gave up the presidency last week, nine years after coming to power in a coup, rather than face an impeachment battle. But not everyone is happy he’s gone. Some Facebook users say they appreciated his liberal economic policies and efforts against extremism in a country rife with violent militants. His fans include a number of young Pakistanis, many of them expatriates.
KABUL, Afghanistan
A former member of Afghanistan's cricket team has been killed in an overnight raid by international forces on his home. Rahmat Wali, 32, who played for the war-torn country's national team between 2001 and 2006, was killed when troops attacked his home in the eastern province of Khost. Wali had no ties to Taliban or other insurgents. The US-led coalition and the separate Nato-led International Security Assistance Force, which together have about 70,000 troops in Afghanistan, could not immediately confirm their involvement in the alleged incident.
DHAKA, Bangladesh
The number of kidney patients in Bangladesh is increasing at an alarming rate as about 20 million people are suffering from the disease. One in every six persons has been suffering from this disease and 40,000 people die of longtime kidney ailment every year in impoverished nation. Doctors said 95% kidney patients of Bangladesh are unable to bear the cost of treatment. According to the statistics, 64% kidney patients undertake treatment by selling their property.